Convertible bed



Aug. 21, 1962 E. H. THlERFl-:LDER 3,049,723

CONVERTIBLE BED Filed Jan. 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Umm HW m

INVENT OR.

CONVERTIBLE BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7, 1959 S i n l v J .x -11a l'I I Aug. 21, 1962 E. H. THIERFELDER CONVERTIBLE BED INVENTOR.7&2671/3 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 7, 1959 States The presentinvention relates to a novel furniture structure, and more specificallyto a novel bed structure.

It has frequently been found desirable, both in hotels and privatehomes, to provide a piece of furniture which may be converted for use aseither a couch or a bed. For example, a bolster may be placed on a bedwhen it is desired to use the bed as a couch, which bolster may then beremoved when it is desired to use the bed for sleeping. Often a problemarises as to what to do with the bolster when it is removed from the beduntil it is needed again.

In many instances, it is desirable to arrange a pair Vof beds of theabove discussed type toward the corner of a room and in addition, atable may be placed in the corner in a manner such that ends of the bedssubstantially abut the sides of the table. It will be appreciated thatit may be desirable to move or adjust the beds with respect to eachother and the table so as to provide either single or double bedsleeping accommodations.

It is an important object of the present invention to ,provide a novelbed structure which may be utilized in a corner grouping of the abovediscussed type, which structure is such that the various pieces of thecorner grouping may be easily adjusted or .positioned with respect toeach other to satisfy various sleeping requirements while at the same.time the various pieces are separate from each other so that they maybe used independently, if desired.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novelbed structure of the above described type wherein the bed may bereadily-adjusted to and releasably locked in various dierent positions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bedstructure including a mattress supporting frame and a bolster supportingframe, which frames may be relatively shifted so as to position themattress supporting frame selectively at least 4partially beneath andsubstantially entirely out from under a bolster carried by the bolstersupporting frame whereby the struc- .ture may be selectively used as acouch or a bed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. l is a .perspective view showing a corner grouping of furnitureincluding a pair of bed structures incorporating features of the presentinvention and a corner table;

FIG. 2 is a partially diagrammatic Yplan view of the corner Vgroupingshown in FIG. l and further shows one .arrangement whereby the beds maybe moved or adjusted relative to each other to provide a double bed;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 2 but show additional ways in whichthe beds can be arranged with respect to each other and the cornertable;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a base and bolster supporting framemeans utilized in a bed structure incorporating features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a mattress supporting frame meansutilized in a bed structure incorporating features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 inFIG. `3;

FIG. 8 is a Vfragmentary partial Vsectional view taken generally alongline 8 8 in FIG. 2;

3,@49JZ3 Patented Aug. 2l, 1962 FIG. 9 is a fragmentary explodedperspective view showing structure whereby the mattress supporting framemeans is pivotally connected with the base and bolter supporting framemeans;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structure shownin FIG. 9;

FIGS. l1 and l2 are similar to FIG. l0 but respectively disclose themanner in which the mattress supporting frame may be manipulated torelease the pivot so as to enable the mattress supporting frame to beshifted longitudinally;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. l0;

FIG 14 is a sectional View taken along line 14-14 in FIG. l1; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along `line 15-15 in FIG. l2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a bedstructure 29 incorporating features of the present invention is shown,which bed structure may be used independently or in a corner groupingsuch as that shown in FIGS. l-4. VThis grouping includes a second bedstructure which is essentially identical to the bed structure 20 asindicated by the application of identical reference numerals with thesuliix a added to corresponding elements. In addition this furnituregrouping may include a corner table 22 against which ends of the bedstructures 20 and 20a substantially abut.

In general, the bed structure 20 is provided with a base and bolstersupporting frame 24 and a mattress supporting frame 26. The stationaryframe 24 comprises a pair of upstanding members 28 and 3d havinghorizontal arms 32 and 34 secured to and extending from their upperends. A 'bolster 36 is secured to the arms 32 and 34. Lower ends of theupstanding members 28 and 30 are interconnected by a cross member 3S. Inaddition laterally extending base members 40 and 42 are welded orotherwise secured to the lower ends of the upstanding support members 28and 30. Means 44 described in detail below is provided on the basemember 42 for cooperation with an element on the mattress supportingframe structure 26 for pivotally and shiftably interconnecting the baseframe and the bed or mattress supporting frame structure. In additionmeans 46 also described in detail below is provided adjacent the outerend of the base member 40 for releasably locking the mattress supportingframe 26 in a desired position.

As shown best in FIG. 6, the mattress supporting frame structure 26comprises a pair of longitudinally extending opposite side frame members48 and 50 and opposite end frame members 52 and 54. These frame memberswhich may be in the form of angle irons and the like are bolted, rivetedor otherwise suitably connected together to provide a rectangular frameadapted to support a cushion or a mattress assembly. As indicatedbroadly in the drawings, the cushion or mattress assembly may include abex spring unit 56 with a mattress 5S thereon, which box spring unit isadapted to rest on inwardly directed horizontal flanges 60 and 62 of theside frame members 48 and 5t) respectively. Upstanding flanges -64 and66 of the side frame members restrain lateral shifting of the box springunit relative to the supporting frame structure.

In order to rigidity the mattress supporting frame structure 26,diagonal braces 68, 70, 72 and 74 are provided at the corners of theframe structure. It will be appreciated that these braces are fixed tothe frame members by bolts, rivets or any other suitable means. In orderto facilitate movement or adjustment of the mattress supporting framestructure 26 in the manner described in detail below, caster assemblies76, 78, 80 and 82 are respectively secured to the diagonal braces 68-74.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9-15, a pivot pin 84 is suitably xed to themattress supporting frame 26 at the corner thereof between the sideframe member 50 and the end frame member 52, and the pin 84 depends fromthe mattress supporting frame 26 for cooperation with the abovementioned means 44 whereby the mattress supporting frame 26 is connectedwith the base frame 24 in a manner Which permits the mattress supportingframe to be shifted to the various positions shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.More specifically, the means 44 comprises an elongated angle iron 86having a vertical flange 88 extending along and welded or otherwisesecured to an upstanding ange of the base member 42. The member 86 alsoincludes an inwardly extending horizontal ange 90 having an elongatedslot 92 therein adapted to accommodate the pin 84. The outer end 94 ofthe slot 92 is spaced from the upstanding bolster supporting members 28and 30 a distance as least substantially as great as the Width of themattress supporting frame 26 so that when the pin 84 is in the slot andin engagement with the end 94 thereof the mattress supporting frame 26may be pivoted about the axis of the pin to and from positions whereinthe longitudinal axis of the frame 26 is disposed parallel to,diagonally to and perpendicularly to a vertical plane including theupstanding bolster supporting members 28 and 30. In other Words, themattress supporting frame 26 may be moved to and from the positionsshown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3.

As shown best in FIGS. 9-15, a locking plate 96 is pivotally mounted at98 on the horizontal flange 90 of the angle iron 86 for normallyretaining the pivot pin 84 substantially against the end 94 of the slot92 so as to facilitate the above described pivotal adjustment of themattress supporting frame 26. However, there are instances when it isdesired to shift the frame 26 longitudinally toward the bolster 36 afterthe frame has been pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 3 so that theend of the mattress supporting frame will be positioned adjacent thebolster to enable the bolster to provide a head board for the bed. Inorder to permit the mattress supporting frame to be shiftedlongitudinally in the manner just described, means is provided foractuating the locking plate 96 so as to release the pin 84 for movementlongitudinally of the slot 92 when the mattress supporting frame 26extends substantially perpendicularly from the vertical -plane includingthe upstanding bolster supporting members 28 and 30 as shown in FIG. 3.This means includes a pin 100 xed to and extending upwardly from theplate member 96 at a location at a side of the pivot pin 84 oppositefrom the plate member pivot 98 when the pin 84 is at the end 94 of theslot. In addition an elongated bar cam 102 is fixed to the under side ofthe frame member 50 for engagement with the pin 100. 'I'he bar 102 isdisposed so that the cam edge 104 thereof is laterally offset from theaxis of the pivot pin 84 a distance substantially greater than theradius of the pivot pin 84. 'I'hus when the cam edge 104 engages the pin100 during pivotal movement of the mattress supporting frame 26 towardthe position shown in FIG. 3, the pin 100 will be shifted to a positionlaterally displaced from the slot 92 as shown in FIGS. 10-15. As aresult, the plate member 96 will be pivoted until a locking edge 106thereof is offset from the slot and disengaged from the pin 84. Whenthis has been accomplished the mattress supporting frame may be shiftedlongitudinally inwardly or toward the bolster until such movement isarrested by engagement of the pin 84 with the inner end of the slot 92.Preferably the inner end of the slot is located so that an end of themattress supporting frame may be located adjacent an outer margin of thebolster. A tension spring 108 is provided for returning the plate member96 to the locking position when the mattress supporting frame 26 hasbeen moved from the FIGS. 3 or 4 positions toward the FIGS. l and 2positions. Thus it is necessary to provide means for maintaining theplate member 96 in the open position to permit the frame 26 to bereturned from the FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 3 position. 'Ihisretaining means is provided by elongating the actuating cam bar 102 sothat it extends for the full length of the slot 92.

In order to con-trol and stabilize longitudinal movement of the mattresssupporting frame 26 between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, aguide roller 110 is carried by a bracket 112 depending from the sideframe member 50 yfor rolling contact with an inwardly facing verticalsurface of either the member y86 as shown or the base member 42. Inaddition a similar roller 114 is carried by a bracket 116 secured to anddepending from the side frame member 48 for engagement with the inwardlyfacing vertical surface of the base frame member 40. It will be notedthat Ithe guide roller 114 is disposed substantially at the end of theside frame member 48 which is connected with the end frame member 52 sothat the distance between the outwardly facing peripheral portion of theroller 114 and the axis of the pivot pin 84 is substantially equal toand not greater than the distance between the axis of the pin 84 and theinwardly facing upstanding surface of the base -frame member 40 wherebythe guide roller 114 will in no way interfere with the pivotal movementof the mattress supporting frame 26. Furthermore, the guide roller isoffset longitudinally of the frame 26 from both the pivot pin 84 and theguide roller 114 so that these elements provide three point engagementwith portions of the base structure 24 'for providing effective controlover the longitudinal movement of the mattress supporting frame.

As indicated above, means are provided on the mattress supporting frame26 cooperable with the means 46 on the base frame structure 24 forreleasably locking the mattress supporting frame in any of the positionsshown in FIGS. 1 through 4. More specifically, the locking means 46includes a locking pin 118, and the cooperable means on the framestructure 26 include aperture means 120 in the frame member 50 forreceiving the pin 118 when the frame structure 26 is in the positionshown in FIG. l, and Iaperture means 122 at the corner of the lfran-1estructure 26 provided by the frame members 48 and 52 for accommodatingthe pin 118 when the frame structure 26 is in the position shown in FIG.3. In addition aperture means 124 is provided in an intermediate portionof the frame member -48 for accommodating the pin 118 when the yframestructure 26 is in the position shown in FIG. 4. In order to enable theframe 26 to be locked in the diagonal position shown -in FIG. 2, a bar125 is provided between and is secured to the opposite side framemembers 48 and 50, and aperture means 126 is provided at a suitable-location in the bar 125 for accommodating the locking pin 118.

The locking means 46 is constructed so that the pin 118 Willautomatically snap into any of the aperture means 120, 122, 124 and 126mentioned above when such aperture means becomes aligned with the pin.The pin 11-8 then locks the frame member 26 yagainst inadvertentmovement. However, the construction of the locking means 46 is such thatthe pin 118 will be cammed downwardly and released Vfrom a complementaryaperture means when an operator applies a predetermined force to the`frame structure 26 for accomplishing adjustment of the frame structurebetween any of the various positions shown in FIG. l through FIG. 4.More specifically, the pin 118 is vertically slidably disposed inaligned apertures of vertically spaced flanges 128 and 130 of bracketmembers 132 and 134 respectively. The bracket member 134 is welded orotherwise secured to the member 132 which in turn is welded orother-wise xed to the base frame member 40 as shown best in FIGS. 7 and8. An annular enlargement 136 is provided on the pin 118 -beneath theupper end thereof and the ilange 128, and a compression spring 138 isprovided between the enlargement 136 and the lower ange 130 for normallyand resiliently supporting the pin so that the upper end thereofprojects above the ange 128 lfor entry into one of the complementaryaperture means. As shown best in FIG. 8, the upper exposed end 140 ofthe pin 118 is rounded. This feature enables the pin -to be cammeddownwardly whenv engaged by an edge of the mattress supporting frame 26as a result of the application of the above mentioned predeterminedforce to the frame structure 26 by an operator. Thus the pin 113 may be-automatically depressed either to permit `a portion of the frame 26 topass lthereover until one of the complementary aperture means becomesaligned with the pin or to cause the pin to be disengaged from suchaperture means. As indicated in FIG. 8, marginal portions 142 and 144 ofthe dlange 128 are preferably inclined downwardly so as to facilitatesliding movement of a portion of the mattress supporting lframestructure 26 over the ilange 128 Iand into or out of engagement -withthe pin 118.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may bechanged without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An assembly of the `type described including stationary frame meanshaving an upstanding portion for supporting bolster means and the like,said stationary frame means including a portion engageable with asupport surface such as a oor and spaced laterally lfrom said upstandingportion for maintaining said upstanding portion in an erect position, abed frame overlying said laterally spaced frame means portion, meansbetween said last mentioned stationary frame means portion and a cornerportion of said bed frame pivotally connecting the bed -frame with saidstationary frame means for enabling the bed frame to be pivoted betweenfirst and second right angularly disposed positions and a third positiondisposed diagonally with respect to said rst and second positions, andcooperable means on said stationary frame means and said bed frame andottset substantially from said connecting means for releasably lockingthe bed :frame in said irst, second and third positions, said connectingmeans including means enabling longitudinal movement of the bed framefrom said second position to a fourth position and for restraining suchlongitudinal movement when the bed frame is in said rstand thirdpositions.

2. An assembly, -as defined in claim 1, wherein said cooperable lockingmeans includes means for releasably locking said bed frame in saidfourth position.

3. An assembly of the type described including stationary frame meanshaving an upstanding portion for supporting bolster means and the like,said stationary frame means including a portion spaced laterally fromsaid upstanding portion, a bed lframe overlying said laterally spacedframe means portion, means between said last mentioned stationary framemeans portion and a corner portion of said bed frame pivotallyconnecting the bed frame with said stationary frame means lfor enablingthe bed frame to be pivoted between first and second rightyangularlydisposed positions and a third position disposed diagonally with respectto said first and second positions, and cooperable means on saidstationary frame means and said bed frame yand otset substantially fromsaid connecting means `for releasably locking the bed frame in saidfirst, second and third positions, said bed frame including first andsecond opposite side frame members and a transverse member extendingbetween intermediate portions of said side frame members, saidconnecting means being disposed to locate the axis of pivotal movementof the bed frame vertically of and substantially in alignment with saidrst side frame member, and said releasable locking means including `aresiliently biased element mounted on said stationary frame means, iirstaperture means in said rst 6 side `frame member for receiving saidelement when said Ibed frame is in said first position, and aperturemeans in said second side frame member -for receiving said element whensaid bed frame is in said second position, and third aperture means insaid transverse member for receiving said element when said bed Iframeis in said third position.

4. An assembly, as defined in claim 3, wherein said element is providedwith a rounded end and is disposed so -as to present substantial-ly onlysaid end yfor entry into said aperture means, said rounded endpermitting camming of the element `out of the aperture means upon theapplication of a predetermined force to the bed frame in a directiontending to move the -bed frame from one of said positions to another.

5. An assembly of the type described including stationary frame meanshaving an upstanding portion for supporting bolster means and the like,said stationary frame means including a portion spaced laterally fromsaid upstanding portion, a bed frame overlying said laterally spacedframe means portion, means between said last mentioned stationary -frameportion and a corner portion of rsaid bed frame pivotally connecting thebed -frame with said stationary frame means for enabling the bed frameto be pivoted between rst and second angularly disposed positions and -athird position disposed diagonally with respect to said iirst and secondpositions, and cooperable means on said stationary frame means and saidbed frame and offset substantially from said connecting means forreleasably locking said bed frame in `said rst, second and thirdpositions, said connecting means including means enabling longitudinalmovement of the bed frame from said second position to a rfourthposition and -for restraining such longitudinal movement when the bedframe is in said rst .and third positions, said connecting meansincluding a pivot pin depending from said bed frame, and said means forenabling longitudinal movement of the bed frame and for restraining suchmovement comprising elongated slot means in said stationary frame meansportion receiving said pin, a retaining member shiftably mounted on saidstationary iframe means portion and biased for engaging said pin andretaining said pin substantially against one end of said slot means, andan element on said bed frame for engaging and shifting said retainingmember out of engagement with said pin when the bed frame is moved fromsaid third position to said second position.

6. An assembly of the type described comprising stationary frame meansadapted to be disposed on a oor, a substantially rectangular bed frameincluding first and second side frame members overlying said stationaryframe means, means substantially aligned with said first side framemember -and pivotally connecting a corner portion of said bed frame witha portion of said stationary frame means for enabling the bed frame tobe pivoted to and from a iirst position in which said iirst side framemember extends over a second portion of said stationary frame means anda second position extending diagonally with respect to said iirstposition, and complementary means on said bed frame and said secondportion for releasably locking the bed frame in said rst and secondpositions, said pivotal connecting means `comprising a pivot pinextending between said first stationary frame means portion and said bedframe corner portion, elongated slot means on one of said last mentionedportions receiving said pivot pin, -a shiftable retaining memberengageable with said pivot pin for normally retaining the pivot pinadjacent one end of said slot means when the bed frame is in said firstand second positions, and an element on one of said last mentionedportions for actuating said retaining member to release said pin whenthe bed frame is moved to a third position substantially perpendicularto said first position, the release of said pin by said retaining memberenabling the bed frame to be shifted longitudinally to a fourthposition.

7, An assembly of the type described, comprising stationary frame meansincluding an upstanding frame portion for supporting a bolster land thelike and a horizontal frame portion including a pair of oor engagingframe members spaced apart longitudinally of the upstanding frameportion and extending laterally inwardly there'om yfor supporting thesame in erect position, a rectangular bed frame overlying said framemembers, means providing a readily detachable pivotal connectionbet-Ween said Ibed frame and one of said frame members enabling the bedfra-me to be pivoted to various positions relative to the stationaryframe means, and a plurality of liloor engaging caster means connectedto opposite ends 0f the bed frame for supporting the same independentlyof the pivot-al connection between the bedV frame Vand said one framemember, and the oor engaging caster means at the head end of the bedframe being disposed entirely between the said frame members permittingthe bed frame to be moved to and from the various positions withoutinterference between the caster means and the said frame members. Y

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS WhitakerMar. 4, Henry Oct. 7, Monger lan. 3, Bouchon Feb. 3, Frey July` 15,Harrison Oct. 12, Shankfman Mar. V5, Torre June 25, Bailey Oct. 27,Bailey Oct. 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden Aug. 23, Sweden Oct. 23, Germany Sept. 5, AustriaSept. 10, Austria Aug. 10,

